075 LHD thread

[asif iqbal]

Does that mean there'll be navalized version of Z-10 and Z-19 as well, and PLANAF have their own attack helicopter assets?

Also, the kind of tonnage envisioned place it somewhere short of Wasp class but larger than the rest of the world has at this time.

if it is a LHD of that tonnage, it wont only take attack helos but also light/medium and possibly heavy lift helos

and after seeing progress on WZ-10 and WZ-19 i dont doubt that China has now in place the helo fleet for a LHD, i would expect Z8, Z15 and mix-up of WZ-10 and WZ-19 on the LHD

however modification are required for these helos in the form of floatation devices and better protection from enviromental conditions because of the sea spray etc Royal Navy is currently in the progress of doing this for their Apache helos for HMS Ocean

there is no quesion that China will make a LHD, but i am suprised at the overall tonnage, thats a big LHD

 

[weig2000]

Z-10 will be navalized; Z-15 will be ready - I believe it's already in production this year or soon - and will be navalized too. Z-10 will be upgraded once the WZ-16 turbo-shaft is available.

Yes, 40-50k class is a surprise to most people, I'd say. It represents a leap both in capability and intention.

 

[weig2000]

Interview with deputy GM of AVICopter, Sun, Qingmin, at Zhuhai Air Show 2012. Talked about EC175/AC352/Z-15 and WZ-16. EC175 will be certified in Europe either at the end of this year, or early next year at the latest. AC352 equipped with WZ-16 turboshaft will start trial flight next year in China, and is expected to be certified by China in 2014. According to the industry insiders, AC352 equipped with WZ-16 will be a milestone in China's helicopter industry development; it would represent the world's highest technology level 7-ton class helicopter.

Here is the link to the report and the video:

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[Totoro]

is wz16 engine a chinese manufactured version of turbomeccas ardiden 3 family? Because that is what I concluded reading about whole EC175/z15 issue. If so, helicopter should be in the 7,5 ton class at least, perhaps approaching 8 tons. If WZ16 is, on the other hand, a domestically developed engine (perhaps helped in some way by turbomecca) then naturally all bets are off and we may indeed be looking at a 7 ton helicopter (which is less than ec175 powered by PWC engines)

 

[asif iqbal]

here is a update from Combat Magazine November Issue 2012 which i posted few weeks back about Z-15, its already now in production and China will start next year, the following does not include 2 prototypes which have been flying for a few years now, numbers F-WWPB and F-WWOM


"roughly about production it says

EC175 c/n S01 the first production series is destined for Bristow helicopters for maiden flight before end of this year

S02 is the second production series EC175 will be the first to be delivered to a customer

S03 was delivered from China in spring of 2012 while S04 followed in summer

current production is undertaken block based line in Marignane until serial production begins on a moving line with 10 assembely stations

about 10 aircraft are due for production in 2012 including S01-S04 and 24 in 2013

Harbin builds the structures, flight controls and fuel systems and cabs and other components are delivered from Beijing to France by air but soon will be by sea

so looks like Z-15 is now reaching good scale production and will pick up soon, if China does want this for its military they will have everything in place by ~2014-15"

 

[PanAsian]

Z-10 will be navalized; Z-15 will be ready - I believe it's already in production this year or soon - and will be navalized too. Z-10 will be upgraded once the WZ-16 turbo-shaft is available.

Yes, 40-50k class is a surprise to most people, I'd say. It represents a leap both in capability and intention.

I am not surprised by the tonnage at all. At the end of the day I strongly believe that China sees the better value and flexibility of prioritizing large LHDs over CVs given their situation and goals.

LHDs are essentially light carriers even for China which does not have V/STOL aircraft (nor any in development that we know of), they will just use UAVs. I won't be surprised if China's first LHD comes CATOBAR equipped for UAVs.

 

[plawolf]

here is a update from Combat Magazine November Issue 2012 which i posted few weeks back about Z-15, its already now in production and China will start next year, the following does not include 2 prototypes which have been flying for a few years now, numbers F-WWPB and F-WWOM


"roughly about production it says

EC175 c/n S01 the first production series is destined for Bristow helicopters for maiden flight before end of this year

S02 is the second production series EC175 will be the first to be delivered to a customer

S03 was delivered from China in spring of 2012 while S04 followed in summer

current production is undertaken block based line in Marignane until serial production begins on a moving line with 10 assembely stations

about 10 aircraft are due for production in 2012 including S01-S04 and 24 in 2013

Harbin builds the structures, flight controls and fuel systems and cabs and other components are delivered from Beijing to France by air but soon will be by sea

so looks like Z-15 is now reaching good scale production and will pick up soon, if China does want this for its military they will have everything in place by ~2014-15"

EU arms embargo? What EU arms embargo?

 

[lostsoul]

EU arms embargo? What EU arms embargo?

Well the French break all the "rules" if it suits them.

 

[weig2000]

Well, strictly speaking, it's dual use.

EU arms embargo? What EU arms embargo?

 

[no_name]

In the same news disclosure it was also hinted that China has the need and is interested in developing her own airborne cavalry division (like the 101st airborne).

Of course, this will only be realised after they have enough suitable helicopters.